The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) have agreed to enhance their cooperation to promote climate actions across Nigeria.
This decision was reached during a meeting held at the NCCC office in Abuja, where NiMet director-general, Prof. Charles Anosike and NCCC director-general, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe discussed areas of mutual interest and collaboration.
Anosike emphasised the importance of a close partnership between NiMet and NCCC for the benefit of the nation. He highlighted the World Meteorological Organisation’s (WMO) support for such collaboration, noting that NiMet’s extensive data resources are crucial for climate change adaptation, mitigation and education. “NiMet is the custodian of over 100 years of climate and meteorological information. Without observing the atmosphere, gathering data, and providing the country with weather and climate information, you can’t monitor the climate,” Anosike said.
He further elaborated on the ongoing climate initiatives led by NiMet, including the national rollout of the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, which aims to develop a comprehensive roadmap to ensure that warnings of multi-hazard hydro-meteorological events reach all vulnerable populations. Anosike also mentioned NiMet’s efforts in driving the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) and the domestication of the WMO Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). He invited the NCCC to collaborate on these initiatives, emphasising that NiMet’s annual seasonal climate prediction is a critical early warning tool for national climate action.
In response, Maduekwe welcomed the collaboration, acknowledging the critical role that both NiMet and NCCC play in addressing climate change, not only in Nigeria but globally. “Climate change refers to changing weather patterns and conditions. By understanding these changes, people began to realise the reality of climate change. This is why NiMet is essential to all our climate efforts as a country,” Maduekwe said. She highlighted the challenges faced in agriculture, where many farmers remain unaware of changing rainfall patterns, underscoring NiMet’s importance in educating and preparing communities for these changes. She affirmed NCCC’s commitment to working closely with NiMet and other stakeholders to address these challenges.
The meeting also underscored the need for effective scientific contributions to various international climate platforms, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Conference of Parties (COP). Additionally, both agencies discussed the ongoing review and update of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as part of their collaborative efforts to combat climate change.
